Tigray rebels accuse Ethiopia of new drone strike

Tigrayan rebel authorities accused Ethiopia of carrying out another drone strike in the northern region on Tuesday, as tensions rise over fears of renewed civil war.

Amanuel Assefa, vice president of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, said there had been a drone strike in Hintalo district, south of the regional capital Mekele. He said he had heard civilians were killed in their homes, but gave no further details.

AFP said it could not independently verify the claim. The federal army did not respond to requests for comment.

A medical source at a nearby hospital, speaking anonymously, told AFP that at least three people were wounded in Tuesday's strike, including at least one member of the Tigrayan forces.

The conflict tracking group ACLED has previously recorded 14 drone strikes in Tigray this year, focused on military targets.

The Ethiopian federal government has launched multiple drone strikes in Tigray in recent weeks and massed troops at the regional border, raising fears of a return to the 2020-2022 civil war. The TPLF ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018 before being sidelined after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power.